“Treat every employee like a volunteer.”
Father
This quote is a spin on the golden rule. Ultimately, jobs and roles are transient and this quote is a reminder that people have the choice to leave at any time. I believe that if...
“When it comes to standards, as a leader, it’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate.”
Jocko Willink and Leif Babin ― Authors/Former Navy SEALs
As a leader, you are accountable for your actions and the actions of your subordinates.
“As a leader it is even more important to be the person at the end of the night that is loading up the truck with the rest of the crew before moving to the next venue. It goes a long with earning people’s respect.”
Brother
My brother is a lighting designer for bands. I remember him telling me this and it resonated with me because I remember a manager sticking with us on a late-night consulting project. It reminds me...
“Being fair is more important in the long-run than being liked, because no one will like or respect you if you’re unfair.”
Father
I like these words of wisdom because they get to what is one of the most, if not the most, important aspect of leadership, respect. Being consistently fair is a sure-fire way to garner respect....
“Strategy is usually the easy part. Execution is what separates the men from the boys.”
Father
I got this quote from my dad when we were discussing something we’d read in The Wall Street Journal. We were talking about whether the article was a flawed strategy or flawed execution ,and about...
“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) ― President of the United States, 1953-1961
I find this quote to be quite inspirational. That such a tremendous leader would attribute leadership success across disciplines, fields, etc. to a moral virtue speaks volumes in my mind.
“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”
Williams Jenning Bryan ― US politician/Orator
This is a quote from Williams Jenning Bryan that I’ve appreciated for several years now. I personally don’t believe in ‘fate’ our future is already decided for us by some higher power. This quote reminds...
“Respect is how to treat everyone, not just those you want to impress.”
Richard Branson ― Entrepreneur/Businessman
It’s how you treat everyone that matters, not just a select few.
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
Jack Welch ― Businessman
This is one of the answers I always give in interviews when they ask about my leadership style: growing others. I have had managers who have done this and managers who haven’t, and the difference...
“You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.”
Walt Disney (1901-1966) ― Entrepreneur/Animator/Film produce
At the end of the day, what matters are the people. The people who will enjoy the fruits of our dreams. That’s why we do it, or why we should.